Atrial natriuretic factor stimulates luteal guanylate cyclase

Phosphodiesterases in the rat ovary: effect of cAMP in primordial follicles

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are important regulators of the intracellular cAMP concentration, which is a central second messenger that affects a multitude of intracellular functions. In the ovaries, cAMP exerts diverse functions, including regulation of ovulation and it has been suggested that augmented cAMP levels stimulate primordial follicle growth. The present study examined the gene expression, enzyme activity and immunolocalization of the different cAMP hydrolysing PDEs families in the rat ovary. Further, the effect of PDE4 inhibition on primordial follicle activation in cultured neonatal rat ovaries was also evaluated. We found varied expression of all eight families in the ovary with Pde7b and Pde8a having the highest expression each accounting for more than 20% of the total PDE mRNA. PDE4 accounted for 15-26% of the total PDE activity. Immunoreactive PDE11A was found in the oocytes and PDE2A in the corpora lutea. Incubating neonatal rat ovaries with PDE4 inhibitors did not increase primordial follicle activation or change the expression of the developing follicle markers Gdf9, Amh, Inha, the proliferation marker Mki67 or the primordial follicle marker Tmeff2. In addition, the cAMP analogue 8-bromo-cAMP did not increase AKT1 or FOXO3A phosphorylation associated with follicle activation or increase the expression of Kitlg known to be associated with follicle differentiation but did increase the Tmeff2, Mki67 and Inha expression in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, this study shows that both Pde7b and Pde8a are highly expressed in the rodent ovary and that PDE4 inhibition does not cause an increase in primordial follicle activation.

Up-regulation of 3'5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate-specific phosphodiesterase in the porcine cumulus-oocyte complex affects steroidogenesis during in vitro maturation

The 3'5'-cyclic GMP (cGMP) pathway is known to influence ovarian functions, including steroidogenesis, ovulation, and granulosa cell proliferation. We show here that cGMP-phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity increased in a gonadotropin-dependent manner more than 3-fold in the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) after 24 h in vitro maturation (IVM) and up to 5-fold after 48 h. Further characterization of this increase demonstrated that the activity was located primarily in cumulus cells, and was sensitive to sildenafil and zaprinast, two inhibitors specific to both type 5 and 6 PDEs. RT-PCR experiments showed that the mRNAs for cGMP-degrading PDEs 5A and 6C are present in the COC before and after 30 h IVM. Western blotting confirmed the presence of PDE 5A in the COC. Western blotting of PDE 6C revealed a significant up-regulation in the COC during IVM. Isolation and analysis of detergent-resistant membranes suggested that PDE 6C protein, along with half of the total sildenafil-sensitive cGMP-degradation activity, is associated with detergent-resistant membrane in the COC after 30 h IVM. Treatment of porcine COC with sildenafil during IVM caused a significant decrease in gonadotropin-stimulated progesterone secretion. Together, these results constitute the first report exploring the contribution of cGMP-PDE activity in mammalian COC, supporting a functional clustering of the enzyme, and providing the first evidence of its role in steroidogenesis.

Roles of cyclic GMP in modulating ovarian functions

The production of a viable oocyte is dependent upon the critical influences of gonadotrophins on follicular development, granulosa cell maturation, ovulation, and luteinization. While the effects of LH and FSH are due in large part to cyclic AMP-dependent signalling mechanisms, it is clear that a number of other factors modulate the actions of gonadotrophins on the ovary via activation of alternative signalling pathways. In this regard, recent studies indicate that the second messenger guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) mediates a wide range of influences on the ovary. Nitric oxide (NO) is a major regulator of cGMP production via its action on soluble guanylyl cyclase, while natriuretic peptides activate receptors with intrinsic guanylyl cyclase activities. In addition, other factors known to influence ovarian functions are now recognized to act via NO/cGMP pathways. This report will review these previous findings and present new data demonstrating the inhibitory influence of cGMP on cAMP-stimulated LH receptor expression in cultured granulosa cells.

Hormonal regulation of natriuretic peptide system during induced ovarian follicular development in the rat

All components of the natriuretic peptide (NP) system have been found in the ovary. The purpose of this study was to determine the hormonal regulation of the NP system during follicular growth and ovulation induced by gonadotropins eCG and hCG. Ovarian membrane binding, before and after treatment, revealed the presence of guanylyl cyclase-type receptors exclusively. Equine CG treatment increased Bmax from 225 +/- 50 fmol/mg protein in control animals to 354 +/- 51 fmol/mg protein, and additional hCG treatment increased it further to 492 +/- 130 fmol/mg protein (p < 0.05), without changing receptor affinity. The increased binding was consistent with increased ability of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) to activate guanylyl cyclase in the ovarian cells obtained from hormone-treated animals. In confirmation, autoradiography of 125I-tyroCNP and 125I-ANP binding to the rat ovary showed that both guanylyl cyclase GC-A and GC-B receptor subtypes are localized to the granulosa cells of antral follicles. Quantitative analysis of GC-A and GC-B receptors by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression level of both receptors started to increase at 2 h and reached maximal levels at 6 h following eCG treatment. Increased levels of GC-B mRNA were also observed 12 h after eCG injection. At 24 and 48 h the receptor levels were below basal. Stimulation of NP receptors by eCG was paralleled by activation of both ovarian ANP and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) gene expression. ANP mRNA increased as early as 1 h after eCG injection and remained elevated up to 6 h. CNP mRNA increased at 2 h after eCG injection, peaked (5-fold) at 6 h, and remained elevated 48 h later, a stage at which follicular maturation continues. Incubation of ovaries with ANP significantly decreased eCG-induced estradiol level, indicating the functionality of the ovarian NP system. These results implicate the NP system in the induction and maintenance of fluid balance in the rapidly developing ovarian follicle.

Effects of atrial natriuretic peptide on rat ovarian granulosa cell steroidogenesis in vitro

PROBLEM

The localization and biological effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) are not limited to cardiac tissue but extend to a number of extra-atrial tissues and organs, including the ovary. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of ANP on granulosa cell steroidogenesis. Hence, the direct effects of ANP on the production of progesterone, 20 alpha-hydroxpregn-4-en-3-one (20 alpha-OH-P), and estrogen by undifferentiated and differentiated rat ovarian granulosa cells were examined in vitro.

METHOD

Undifferentiated granulosa cells obtained from the ovaries of diethylstilbestrol-primed, immature rats were treated with increasing doses (10(-12) to 10(-6) M) of rANP for 48 h.

RESULTS

ANP evoked a two- and threefold increase in progesterone and 20 alpha-OH-P production relative to untreated controls, respectively. Increasing doses of ANP in combination with porcine FSH (125 ng/well) resulted in a biphasic response in progesterone production above FSH-treated controls. Specifically, a maximal inhibition of 35% in progesterone production was achieved at 10(-9) M ANP, followed by a stimulation to levels comparable with FSH-stimulated controls at higher doses examined. Increasing doses of ANP evoked a twofold increase in FSH-stimulated 20 alpha-OH-P production over respective controls. Following pretreatment of granulosa cells with FSH for 48 h to evoke differentiation, ANP caused a significant dose-dependent inhibition in basal progesterone production that resulted in a 76% suppression at the highest dose examined. In contrast, ANP evoked a 2.8-fold increase in 20 alpha-OH-P production when compared with controls. Finally, in FSH-stimulated differentiated granulosa cells, ANP evoked a threefold increase in progesterone production and a 65% inhibition in 20 alpha-OH-P production. ANP exerted no significant effects on estrogen production by either undifferentiated or differentiated granulosa cells in the presence or absence of FSH.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that ANP can modulate directly progestin steroidogenesis in both undifferentiated and differentiated rat ovarian granulosa cells in vitro and, therefore, may play an important role in granulosa cell differentiation and follicular maturation.

HS-142-1 inhibits testosterone production and guanosine-3':5'-cyclic monophosphate accumulation stimulated by atrial natriuretic peptide in isolated mouse Leydig cells

In this report, we describe the effects of a recently described atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) antagonist, HS-142-1, on the action of ANP on Percoll-purified mouse Leydig cells. Incubation of the Leydig cells with 10(-8) M ANP for 3 h resulted in a 16-fold stimulation of testosterone production over basal. Addition of HS-142-1 in a concentration range of 0.1 to 5 micrograms/ml resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of ANP-induced testosterone production, a nearly complete inhibition being achieved with 5 micrograms/ml antagonist. Testosterone production by unstimulated cells or in cells stimulated with hCG was not affected by the antagonist. HS-142-1 was also able to inhibit the ANP-stimulated cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP) formation in the cells, in a dose-dependent manner. However, cyclic AMP level in cells stimulated with either forskolin or hCG remained unaffected by HS-142-1 even when added at a concentration of 5 micrograms/ml. Results obtained from 125I-ANP binding experiments showed that HS-142-1 is able to competitively inhibit the binding of the radioligand to its receptors on the Leydig cells. Thus evidence obtained in this study permit us to conclude that HS-142-1 is a potent and specific antagonist of ANP, has no toxic effect on the cells and is able to inhibit competitively the binding of ANP to its guanylate cyclase coupled receptors. Availability of such antagonists are likely to facilitate research on the physiology of ANP.

Ovarian atrial natriuretic peptide during the rat estrous cycle

The changes in ovarian levels of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (irANP) and arginine vasopressin (irAVP) were observed during the estrous cycle of rat. We also demonstrated the synthesis of ovarian ANP. In adult 4-day cycling rats, ovarian level of irANP was found to be the highest on proestrus and was to be the lowest on diestrus. Ovarian irANP level inversely correlated with ovarian level of irAVP. On reverse-phase HPLC, two distinct peaks of ovarian irANP, high and low molecular weight forms, existed in the each stage of the estrous cycle. However, no significant changes in plasma and atrial concentrations of ANP were observed during the cycle. The rat ovary contained mRNA coding for ANP. These data showing the synchronized cyclic change of ovarian irANP and irAVP with the estrous cycle suggest that the ovary locally synthesizes ANP and ovarian ANP may play regulatory roles on the follicular fluid dynamics.

Membrane currents elicited by prostaglandins, atrial natriuretic factor and oxytocin in follicle-enclosed Xenopus oocytes

1. Membrane currents were recorded from voltage clamped Xenopus laevis oocytes, still surrounded by follicular cells, theca and enveloping inner ovarian epithelia (ovarian follicles). 2. Superfusing follicles with frog Ringer solution containing E-series prostaglandins (PGE1 or PGE2) or oxytocin (0.5-2 microM) generated slow membrane currents arising from an increase in membrane conductance to K+. 3. Follicles taken from different frogs varied greatly in responsiveness to PGE and oxytocin. For example, enclosed oocytes with good sensitivity to prostaglandins responded to 1 nM-PGE, whereas follicles from some frogs failed to respond at 5 microM. 4. Oocytes with good responsiveness to PGE also produced K+ currents to PGA1, PGA2, PGB1, 11-deoxy-PGE1 and 11-beta-PGE2, whereas PGF2 alpha, PGI2, PGD2 and 8-iso-PGE1 generally failed to elicit membrane currents. 5. Responses to PGE and oxytocin were mimicked by the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin or by intraoocyte pressure injection of cyclic nucleotides. Responses were potentiated by the phosphodiesterase inhibitors theophylline and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). In IBMX (0.5 mM), human atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) (10-60 nM) elicited a similar K+ conductance. This all implied that cyclic nucleotides played a role in the receptor-channel coupling mechanism of these responses. 6. Defolliculating oocytes effectively abolished responses to prostaglandins, oxytocin and ANF, suggesting that the currents arise in follicular cells. 7. The responses of PGE, oxytocin and ANF thus resembled currents elicited by catecholamines, adenosine, gonadotrophins and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). However, PGE, oxytocin and ANF responses were not blocked by catecholaminergic or purinergic antagonists. Moreover, when comparing follicles isolated from different frogs, the sensitivity to PGE and oxytocin varied independently of that to gonadotrophin or VIP. These experiments suggest that Xenopus ovarian follicles contain specific and distinct receptors for PGE, oxytocin and ANF. 8. Acetylcholine attenuated the cyclic nucleotide-mediated K+ responses, including currents elicited by PGE, oxytocin and ANF. Attenuation was not dependent on, or mimicked by, activation of the inositol phosphate-diacylglycerol messenger pathways located in the oocyte itself, nor was it appreciably blocked by loading follicle-enclosed oocytes with 0.1-1.5 mM-EGTA.

Effect of a tumour-promoting phorbol ester on atrial peptide-induced testosterone production and cyclic GMP accumulation by isolated mouse Leydig cells

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (4 beta-PMA)--a potent activator of protein kinase C--on the responsiveness of mouse Leydig cells to stimulation with rat atriopeptin II (rAP-II). We report that, in these cells, the stimulation of testosterone production by rAP-II could be inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by 4 beta-PMA (1-200 nM). In contrast, the basal steroidogenesis was stimulated 2-fold by 4 beta-PMA. There was no inhibition of testosterone production when the cells were stimulated with 8-bromo cyclic GMP (8Br-cGMP) in the presence of 4 beta-PMA. Furthermore, addition of 4 beta-PMA resulted in a marked reduction in the amount of cGMP accumulated in response to rAP-II stimulation. 4 alpha-Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (4 alpha-PMA) was found to have no effect at all. The inhibitory effect of 4 beta-PMA on steroidogenesis could be completely reversed by the addition of 0.25 mM 3-isobutyl 1-methylxanthine (IBMX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Also, the 4 beta-PMA-induced lowering of cGMP content could be partially reversed by IBMX. Membrane fractions from cells treated with 4 beta-PMA or 4 alpha-PMA did not differ in their contents of either basal or rAP-II-stimulated guanylate cyclase activities. We conclude that the 4 beta-PMA-mediated inhibition of testosterone production by Leydig cells stimulated with rAP-II results from an activation of a phosphodiesterase enzyme, hypothetically through an activated protein kinase C. This leads to a reduction in the cellular cGMP content through an increased metabolic removal of cGMP formed in response to rAP-II stimulation.